Spring Still Springing

Spring continues its deceitful ways. In the gaps between these bright sunny days that have been featuring on this blog, we've had miserable cloudy days, high winds and frequent rain and showers. But, as I'm something of a fair-weather photographer these days, those less-than-perfect periods don't feature here very often.

The truth is further misrepresented in that, even beneath these blue skies, a chill wind is at large. But shoots are still shooting, blossoms still blossoming and flowers still flowering whatever the weather.

Our wandering footsteps led us to Wandlebury Country Park to watch the slowly unfolding spectacle. 

In the meadows the cattle are doing their conservation work. But hang on a minute! Those aren't the shaggy Highland beasts that we usually see here.....

Belties! Or Belted Galloways from the uplands of  SW Scotland. They are kept here as conservation grazers, keeping the land in perfect condition for wildflowers. However they also produce high-quality lean beef and are a popular breed across the world. It's hard to believe that just over a decade ago they were officially an "at risk" rare breed in the UK.

Their hairy Highland cousins are still here too.

But it was the spring blossoms I'd really come here in search of: either singing out against the blue skies....

....in detailed close-up.....

....overhanging the old Roman Road....

....or resting on a bed of moss, having been dislodged from the branch by a gust of wind.

Green shoots, mostly of Cow Parsley, are springing up through last year's leaves in the shelter of a fallen log.

Even old logs can exhibit a strange beauty when examined closely. Meanwhile Les has found a convenient bench....

Now, is he watching the golf? Or looking for birds? Or perhaps engaging in that favourite pastime hereabouts - scanning the horizon to try to find Ely Cathedral? It's almost 17 miles away (27 km), but you can usually see it on any reasonably clear day.

We walked back beneath more blossom, overhanging views of the meadows and some of the trees planted in the grounds of Wandlebury House.

The House itself is long-gone, but the enormous stable block now forms a focal point in the grounds. The little lake is edged, at this season, with daffodils and marsh marigolds.

There's more blossom to see in the vicinity of the old stable block, which nowadays is called Archway House and contains flats and offices.

I'm not sure what these items in the foreground might be. 

But I'm fairly certain that this is a flowering quince, adding a splash of hot colour on what was still a chilly morning - unless you could find a sheltered spot in the sun.

And so farewell to Wandlebury - till the next time.

Take care.